I have an old deck that my customer would like painted. What is the process for such a project? Will it extend the life of the deck?
Painting a wood deck can be the start of an ongoing, frequent painting project. You will be much better off in the long run to take the time now to remove any existing finish, clean the wood, and finish the deck with a deck sealer or stain. When you apply paint to a deck, you put a continuous film of paint on the surface. Also, you are usually only able to paint the top and ends of the boards, leaving the sides and underside unprotected and able to absorb moisture. The moisture in the wood is then drawn to the surface by the heat of the sun and gets trapped under the continuous film of paint. The paint then blisters and peels, and you start the cycle over again. A deck sealer or stain does not form a film like paint, but still protects the wood from the elements and allows moisture to pass through it, lessening the likelihood of blistering and peeling. Most of the sealers and stains are clear or semi-transparent, so the wood has to be in pretty good shape to be able to use them.
